GRAND OPERA HOUSE

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2121, 13 April 1914, Page 8

GRAND OPERA HOUSE

mm mm ' MDAILAT THE RACES'J "A. Day at the Races," an American musical burlesque, in two acts. Cast:— Louis Gloom Bert Lα Blanc Miko Joy Paul A. Stanhopo John Tomroy ,„ Dave Nowlin Hal Price Carlton Ohaso Will Gettum Harry Burgess Billy. NL'Gulnncsa „ Harris H'Guirc Pete „ Herbert Lancaster Bank Trco George M'Call Ethel Strathrooro Elaine Ravcnsberg Mamie Tomroy Teddy Martin Grace Honey Fritzie do Guy Ima Piker Imogeno .Mansfield . Dlna Doloro .'. Anna, Clarke | It is not every day that Wellington sees tho opening of a new playhouse devoted to legitimate theairica, and it'can be taken for granted that there was little room to spare in the palatial , now Grand Opera iiouso on Saturday evening, when its doors were thrown open to. the public for the first timo. Tno opening was somewhat inauspicious, inasmuoh as no one had evidently thought of arranging anything in tho way of a function to mark what must bo regarded surely as an occasion.. When the old Opera House was opened by Messrs. MacMahon and Leith on November 17, 1886, His Excellency tho Governor (Sir Wm. Jervois) was present, at 7.45 p.m. a big orchestra, under Herr Mosch, with tho assistance of a choir of local singers, performed the National Anthem, and an address, appropriate to tlio occasion, was delivered by Mr. George Leith. Then followed a performance of "The Silver King." In this manner some circumstance was lent the opening, and a spirit was created that made tho evening a mem orable one with all present. Much more imposing, better finished, raoro elaborately decorated, and a good deal larger and more convenient, both before and behind the curtain, the new Grand Opera House was opened without ceremony by the American Musical Burlesque Company on Saturday evening, and tho first air to tinklo out from the big orchestral well was some tawdry rag-time air played by a thin orchestra. It was all rather disappointing. Particularly as the new theatre, with its rich decorative scheme, its delicate yet brilliant colour harmonies, and flashing contrasts of blazing gold and rich electric blue, charmed everyone. Though the theatre is ono of. the largest in the country, there is no suggestion of tho barn—it is cosy and "intimate" in construction, and a fine air of comfort ?l lu3 ™ rv « ingeniously conveyed in tho stylo and richness of the furnishings. The seats, both on the ground floor and in the dress circle, are extremely easy for the sitter, and the lino oiMsightis quite good. The one "fly in the ointment"—there is bound to bo ? ne A , '* was notetl a * ORC o by many in tho dress circle—was that tho heads or the people in front blocked out sections of the stage, duo without doubt to tho insufficiency of rake allowed, iirus,whilst a clear view.of the staeo is obtained from every seat in the theatre when it is empty, tho same can :earcely be said of it when there is an whence. Thero is much to admire in -lie clean, refreshine; shades of green jsed in tho embellishment of the main jntrauce or portiere, the dress circle ;oyor and the retiring-room. Both the Oye a ? nd , tne balcony parade were used in baturday evening during tho internal by numerous patrons of both sexes. Junng the interval the movable ceilne and roof were slid back, exposing a mescopio view of .stars and senddina ilouds. The lighting plan is a parloularly fine one, ftnd one can only ■egret that the stage plant was not ■sed to better effect in theburloswio. Ihere was a time when it- was fashionblo to rail at writers of English musical omedy for tho diaphanous texture of ho material they employed in weavtitg ntertainments of the light and riddy rder, but after seeing S "A Day at tho taces" we metaphorically take off our iats to Paul Reubens, Arthur Wimperis nd Co., for their work is almost legitimate opera compared with tho trashy iconsequentialities which form tho warp nd woof of "A Day at the Races." This articulir form of entertainment, which rok its rise in America when planted bore by those clever comedians Messrs.

Weber and Fields (who were such a | host in themselves that nothing elso mattered much)/ig nothing more than airy vaudeville, joined.up by the thinnest tissue in the way of plots, and supplemented with a lively ballet of a dczen gay-footed dancera, who provide an animated background' for any old sen?. Everything and everybody is frankly aggressively American ; the dialogue is often incomprpliensively so, but all work brightly enough, without precisely . arriving anywhere. The- exceptions are Bert Lo Blanc and Paul A. Stanhope, but very especially tlie former. They appear ns Gloom and Joy, two dead-beats looking for a long-lost son on a racecourse, into which they have' sneaked in police clothes. Bert Lo Blanc is a perfect type of the Now York sheeny man, tbo losv-tyno Jew sharper, and ho enriches tho characterwith a broad unctuous humour that follows the line of Mrs. Malaprnp: ho always has a word in season, but it only sounds' something like the right one. Ho is a fresh vital comedian whose fun gets right across the footlights. His partner, Paul Stanhope, is tho burlesque tvpo of super-corpulent AmericanDutchman. He has a snappy humour and good facial contortion. Bladders do the -rest of tho laughter-makine as far as he is concerned. After-Lo Blanc and Stanhope, there is a fading away. Mr. Dave Mowlin, as John Tomroy, a racecourse managter, lookfs_ wett> and rattlos off tho Yankee idiom tp tho manner born, but h's stylo of humour is inclined to be harsh and grating. Ho was bright and. cheerful in tho burlesque, opera duet with Miss Elaine KavonsIrtirg. Miss Ravpnsburg is evidently a talented actross, but she hardly gets a chance to show her paces as Ethel Strathmore, a fashionable ladv "crook," and though die has a highly-pleasing presence she did not seem to bo enjoying herself particularly right through "The Day." She lifts up a long-ranged, mellow soprano voice in song, but tho music given her is hardly worthy of consideration. Miss Kavensburg appealed as an artist who was not being mado the best or most of. Mr. Carlton Chase is a nice, easy performer, with a presentable baritone voico. In the part of Hal Price he acted naturally, and sane the song "Geo! It's great to meet a friond from your own town" (which was marred by bad lighting) well. _ Mr. Harry Burgess was mildlv eccentric as a Pinker ton detective. He showed up as a burlesauo dancer in the "Waltzing Wedding" interlude. Mr. Harris Maguire appeared as Billy M'Guinncss, Miss Teddy Martin as the spry Mamio Tomrov, and Fritzio Do Guy was acceptable as Grace Honey. The songs of the ladv who anpears in kilts in tho second part lacked refinement. The magcrial blue pencil needs exercise here and elsewhoro throughout tho burlesque. Some of tho successful musical numbers were: "How They Kiss," "I'd Like to Spend a Rainy Afternoon with You." "Kot>n on Makiii" Love," and "Let's Make Love Among the Roses." Tho Coney Island scene, in which the last act is spun out to a perilous length, is a very faithful representation of a bright corner of the big American wonderland of amusements. "A Day at tho Paces" will be played throughout tho week.